For all those homeschooling families (and others too), do you do school work in the summer time? I have always had high ideals of what all we would accomplish during our lazy days of summer and somehow I never get much of it done. We typically do math during the summer months (just so we don't loose our skills). Even if it is just 2 or 3 days a week, we try and keep up with math. Last summer we also did art, which is something I don't always carve time out for during a typical school year. This summer we are also doing some themed lapbooks and pocket books. I am trying out a company called Evan Moor, and so far I really like them. Today we have been working on a book about whales. It is bunches of fun and the kids don't mind this kind of school. I hope to get to a marine science center to investigate some hands on learning, but for now the pocket book is crafty and creative.
As for my ideals of all we would accomplish, we haven't done as much as we would have liked. In between VBS and swimming, we have also enjoyed a study book called How to Study the Bible for Kids. It is really great and I would highly recommend it to any family. It takes me initiating this for the girls but they do love it when we do it.
So do you all do school work in the summer??? Or do I just try to squeeze too much in??? (Wait, don't answer that 2nd question...LOL)
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
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We do minimal. I like to have the kids write in a journal every day. My 10 yo is finishing up math. They do music lessons all summer. I am reading a book called Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends and they do coloring/workbook pages while I read. And I always have another read aloud going...we like YWAM's missionary stories. But that's it. We all need the break. August will be here soon enough (for me!). :)
I do not homeschool (althought see my desire on tonight's post) but I think conitnuing to school during the summer is important and I try my best to keep the girls involved with their studies.
I am very blessed that my mother takes them to the summer AR reading program and I do work book sheets with them through the week.
We make it a game. They work on their sheets (this summer we are also doing book reports for mommy) and for every A (all sheets become an A through redos) at the end of summer they get one dollar that they can spend "on clothes" as they would like (modesty a must of course). Last year they each had $27 to spend on clothes of their choice while we did the annual back to school shopping. Maddy bought the cuties top and Makensie bought an adorable tee shirt dress.
I know their little brains are like sponges now but when a full sponge lays still too long the water typically starts to leak out!
I always think we are going to get so much done. Usually, I am hoping to do some of the extras that I don't get to during the school year. In reality--we do almost nothing. And I agree with you about Math and my intention is to do some a couple of days a week in the summer but we don't do that either. This year, I just decided that we are not going to school at all for four weeks at least and I will evaluate it at the end of the four weeks. I have to say that it has been very freeing.
Hey Cris long time no chat! June was a little busier than I thought-July appears to be better-anyway, to the comment-
we do work over the summer to keep from getting "mushy brain". 2 or 3 days a week(not set days)-math and reading workbooks-I think it helps with self confidence when they go back to school. The first week or so is review and I think it starts a great mindset when they can say "I know this" or "that was easy". It also helps me see where the strengths and weaknesses are so I can be prepared and let the teacher know when they go back to school.
I think we all try to squeeze in too much! It seems like the summer is so short. Here it is July 4th and the summer is half over! Good for you, teacher Cris! So glad the girls are enjoying the Bible Study book. I downloaded the Ephesians study yesterday. Love to all of you!
It's funny that this was your post because as I was waiting for your blog to come up I realized that it was July 2nd and we'd said we were going to begin our homeschooling adventure in July. Of course I meant the 1st, but that didn't happen. I'm not pressuring myself, but I am prodding myself along to get organized and ready. I'm glad that I had such a good friend who can help guide us in our homeschool journey if we need it.
This is my first summer as a homeschooling mom, and while I meant to school year round-we have been taking a break while I re-evaluate and get prepared with a new curriculum. I plan to start next week. I like the idea of starting now, so that we are free to take longer breaks when needed, such as when Moses and Samuel come home or the new baby is born.
Usually we don't school during the summer. I feel I really need a break! However, we had JD diagnosed as dyslexic this year and have started a remedial reading program with him. We're seeing progress and want to try to bring him up to grade-level, so we are continuing this through the summer. He's a great kid, understands why we need to do it, and dutifully does it. I'm also working with Jax to keep the reading skills he acquired this year in Kindergarten fresh. Other than that, we play fun math games (Muggins Knock Out, Math-Mat, online games) to keep math facts memorized. That's all I want to do, so that when fall rolls around, we'll all feel recharged and ready for another year.
We are on vacation right now so I am not even thinking about school.
I schooled all last summer. This summer I am TOO pregnant and tired to do it.
We school in a more relaxed manner all year. The summer schooling, which we typically do quite a bit of, allows us to take more breaks as needed throughout the year as we may travel, use "sick days" or attend field trips. It's so hot in the summer anyway, we tend to hybernate a fair amount of the time, kind of like I would do if we lived in a very cold climate. This summer, we are reading a LOT of library and home library books, so it's still a change of pace.
When we wer ein the public shcool system I wish we had had year round schooling. We have tkaen a break due to my upcoming surgery, but plan on diving back in here shortly.
We will be using FLVS and other works. But I love schooling in the summer. Here in Florida, it is sometimes too hot to go outside and play. We do not have a pool, and teenagers, do not see, playing outside, as cool any longer.
We don't work on "our Curriculum" in the summer because there is no time with all of our other summer camps and activities. We are involved in a few of the local libraries' reading programs so we are trying to get a lot of reading in whenever we can. I intended for them to do more math this summer also, but we haven't had much of a chance yet.
It sounds like most of us 1) want to do a little school during summer, but 2) don't do as much as we wanted. Me, too! Crispy, I still have not done those last 3 days of reading curriculum.
But in the meantime, my daughter has made pizza dough, helped me lay out patterns and figure out sewing projects, helped us paint (well, the "help" part is debatable), drawn hundreds of pictures, read 5-10 books per week at her grade level or above, and continued with piano and gymnastics lessons. I think that is enough for us. I still may pull that reading book back out for a few more lessons, but I am satisfied with where we are right now.
We love having the summer off from HSing. Our life has been so crazy with moving, settling, staying with people, etc. I did get some fun state and president flash cards for $1 at Target and we did those, as well as spelling B's, in the car traveling. We are memorizing verses for Sunday School and trying to work on our Japanese too this summer (often in the car as well).
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